Dell rumoured to be eyeing smartphone market

by Stevie Smith - Oct 8 2009, 15:00

With persistent rumours claiming Microsoft Corp. is preparing a smartphone handset with which to directly challenge the likes of Apple’s iPhone, RIM’s BlackBerry and the Palm Pre, a new report suggests computer giant Dell Inc., is also looking to get in on the smartphone action.

According to industry watchers at The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), Dell is currently hard at work developing a touch-screen smartphone device that will be powered by the increasingly popular Android mobile operating system and will run exclusively on AT&T’s high-speed network.

As with all thoroughly unsubstantiated rumours regarding potentially sexy new mobile devices, Dell Inc., AT&T Inc., and Google have all sidestepped issuing an official comment on the new smartphone.

However, despite the apparent lack of solid evidence to support the validity of Dell’s smartphone, the computer manufacturer hired former Motorola executive Ron Garriques in 2007 to head its consumer technology group.

In July of this year, Garriques avoided divulging any specific details regarding an upcoming smartphone handset but outlined to industry analysts that wireless carriers are looking for Dell to develop a consumer “solution” for the mobile market.

The WSJ report follows a proof-of-concept mobile device that was rolled out and showcased by Dell in August during an industry event in Beijing.

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